Rapidly adjustable wrench

ABSTRACT

This invention describes an improved structure of a wrench with fixed and movable jaws in which the movable jaw is locked by means of ratchet teeth on its back edge which match ratchet teeth in a releasable locking member placed in a recess in the body of the wrench. A spring is provided to force the locking member into locking contact with the ratchet teeth on the movable jaw. The improvement lies in the construction of this locking member which is made in two parts which are mirror images of each other. The two parts are inserted into the recess from opposite sides of the head of the wrench. On the end opposite to the ratchet teeth these two parts have slots cut which provide narrow matching ridges at the surfaces of the two parts where they come into contact. The spring that provides the force to place the locking member into contact with the ratchet teeth of the arm is a leaf spring formed in the shape of a number &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;7&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; with a slot cut in the portion comprising the top of the 7. This slot is of width to be slipped over the two adjacent ridges which effectively locks the two parts together in a direction perpendicular to their plane of contact. Additionally shallow pin means may be provided to prevent relative motion of the two parts along the plane of contact.

United States Patent Evans RAPIDLY ADJUSTABLE WRENCH Inventor: James P. Evans, 3233 S. 23rd Oklahoma City, Okla. 73115 Filed: Aug. 14, 1972 Appl. No.: 280,523

US. Cl. 81/145 Int. Cl B25b 13/14 Field of Search 81/129, 130 R, 130 A, 139,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 539,780 6/1922 France 81/145 Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-James G. Smith Attorney, Agent, or FirmHead & Johnson [57] ABSTRACT This invention describes an improved structure of a [111 3,817,123 June 18, 1974 wrench with fixed and movable jaws in which the movable jaw is locked by means of ratchet teeth on its back edge which match ratchet teeth in a releasable locking member placed in a recess in the body of the wrench. A spring is provided to force the locking member into locking contact with the ratchet teeth on the movable jaw.

The improvement lies in the construction of this locking member which is made in two parts which are mirror images of each other. The two parts are inserted into the recess from opposite sides of the head of the wrench. On the end opposite to the ratchet teeth these two parts have slots cut which provide narrow matching ridges at the surfaces of the two parts where they come into contact. The spring that provides the force to place the locking member into contact with the ratchet teeth of the arm is a leaf spring formed in the shape of a number 7 with a slot cut in the portion comprising the top of the 7. This slot is of width to be slipped over the two adjacent ridges which effectively locks the two parts together in a direction perpendicular to their plane of contact. Additionally shallow pin means may be provided to prevent relative motion of the two parts along the plane of contact.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide a ratchet type adjustable wrench in which the locking member is designed for simple construction, for easy insertion into the recess in the head of the wrench, and of such a design that provides for smooth sliding and guiding action of the locking member with respect to the head of the wrench.

This invention is in the field of adjustable head wrenches. More particularly, it is concerned with those adjustable wrenches which provides ratchet teeth to lock the movable jaw with respect to the head of the wrench and the fixed jaw.

In the prior art there are many examples of wrenches in which the movable jaw is generally attached to an arm which is slidably received in the head of the wrench. There are a plurality of ratchet teeth cut into the back edge of this arm opposite the jaw and there is a recess in the head of the wrench into which a locking member is placed so that it is slidable longitudinally to the wrench handle. It has ratchet teeth out in one end to match those on the arm of the movable jaw. At the other end it is forced by spring means into contact with the arm so that the ratchet teeth will lock the outward movement of the movable jaw.

The weakness of the prior art devices has always been in the construction of the locking means. While it is simple to provide a rectangular recess and a corresponding rectangular locking member it is difficult to provide one in which there is sufficient opportunity to manually grasp the sides of this locking member and still have it suitably guided in the slot so that it will not fall out of the recess during operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects are realized and the limitations of the prior art devices are overcome in this invention in which the locking member is made in two parts, each part comprising approximately half the width of the normal locking member, that is, approximately half of the thickness of the head of the wrench in which the recess is cut. The recess is cut in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. The width of two parts of the locking member is such as to be slidably received in the longitudinal recess. There are two wings, one on each part, that extend backward from the ratchet teeth cut into the end of the locking member parts, these wings serve to further guide the locking member laterally, that is, perpendicular to the plane of contact between the two parts. Thus the two parts can be inserted from the sides into the aperture, the forward ends sliding in the longitudinal aperture and hav- 7 ing corresponding ratchet teeth out to those in the arm.

It will be clear that there is required some means to hold these two parts together. This is accomplished by cutting slots in the back end, that is, the end opposite to the ratchet teeth, of each of the two parts. This leaves a narrow ridge adjacent the plane of contact of each part.

The spring which forces this locking member outwardly into contact with the ratchet teeth is constructed from a leaf spring in the form of the numeral 7. The head portion of the spring is slotted with a slot of such width as to slip over the two adjacent ridges which locks the two parts together. Thus, the spring serves two purposes, first to force the locking member outwardly and secondly, to lock the two parts of the locking member together so that they cannot be pulled apart and fall out of the recess. The two wings that extend backward can be shaped so as to provide a strong finger hold by which the locking member can be pulled back against the spring to release the ratchet on the arm of the lower jaw.

. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects of this invention and a better understanding of the principles and details of the invention will be evident from the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents an overall view of the preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 represents a detail, partly in cross section, of the movable jaw, the ratchet teeth and the locking member.

FIG. 3 represents a view in section along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 represents a variation in the shape of the fixed jaw of the wrench.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, numeral 10 indicates generally the wrench which is the preferred embodiment of this invention. It represents a wrench with body or handle portion 12, head portion 14, fixed jaw 16, movable jaw 18, which is attached to an arm 20 which extends at right angles. The arm 20 has ratchet teeth 24 cut on its back edge which is opposite to the position of the jaw 18. A milled slot in the head 14 provides a means for sliding the arm and lower jaw in the head of the wrench. There is a recess 28 cut into the body of the head transverse to the plane of the wrench. In this recess is a locking member shown generally by the numeral 30, which is spring activated on its back end, and has ratchet teeth 24 on its front end which cooperate with the ratchet teeth on the arm so as to lock the movable jaw in position. If it is desired to change the position of the movable jaw the locking member 30 is retracted, against the pressure of the spring, until the ratchet teeth are out of contact, and the arm can then move freely in the slot in the head.

So far this description of the drawings would fit some of the prior art devices. The real novelty in this invention lies in the details of construction of the recess in the body of the wrench that holds the locking member, and in the construction of the locking member itself. Referring to FIG. 3 it is seen that there is a slot 23 in the head which guides the arm 20 of the lower jaw 18. The ratchet teeth 24 are on the back edge of the arm. The locking member 30 comprises two separate parts 32 and 34. Each of these are approximately half the thickness of the slot 23 and when they are inserted into the opening 28, one from each side, the tips of these two parts will fit slidably in the slot 23. Thus the forward portion of the two parts are locked together by the width of the slot 23; The back portions or wings have enlargements which can be grasped by the fingers so as to retract the locking member. The two parts are shaped on the back end such that when they are in contact along their median plane 31 there will be a slot 33 which is of the proper width to slide on the portion 35 of the head of the wrench. Thus when the two parts are inserted into the opening, or recess, the front ends are held together by the width of the slot 23 in which they slide, and the back end is guided by the slot 33 which slides along the portion 35 of the head. However, so far no mention has been made of how the outer ends of the locking members are locked together.

In FIG. 3 it will be clear that there are two slots 36 and 38 in the ends of the two parts of the locking member. These slots provide a pair of thin walls or edges 40 and 42 on either side of the median plane 31.

The spring that provides the outward force on the locking member is a leaf spring 39 bent in the shape of a numeral 7. The head portion of a 7" is slotted of a width which will just slide over the two projections 40 and 42, and lock them together. Thus the slot in the spring 39 will lock the two parts so that they cannot separate in an outward direction. The two parts then form a unitary assembly which further can be locked by means of a shallow pin and socket 44 so that the two parts cannot relatively slide in their plane of contact. The locking member thus slides smoothly at the front end in the slot 23 and at the back end in the slot 33.

To assemble the locking member into its recess the movable jaw and its arm are removed from the head, the two parts 32 and 34 of the locking member are inserted from each side with their front ends inside the slot 23. The spring 39 having previously been placed in position between the two parts locks the two parts together as they are inserted from each side. After the parts are locked together with the spring, the locking member is retracted compressing the spring and providing a clearance in the slot 23 for the arm 20. The arm with the movable jaw can then be inserted into the slot. There is a notch 26 cut in the lower end of the movable jaw 18. There is a means 22 in the head portion of the wrench so that a pin, set screw, or corresponding means, can be inserted into the opening 22 after the lower jaw has been put into position so as to lock and limit the outward movement of the arm and prevent its being withdrawn entirely from the head.

It is clear that once the arm is put in position in the slot 23 the spring is compressed and the slotted portion 41 of the spring effectively locks the two parts of the locking member 30 together so that they cannot be removed from the wrench. The only way to remove those parts 32 and 34 is to remove the locking pin means 22, retract the locking member, slide the arm out of the slot 23, after which the locking member can be pushed forward to release the spring from holding the two parts together and they can then be removed separately by lifting them outwardly from the recess 28.

In our copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 265,570, we describe how it is possible to provide an improved locking means by providing ratchet teeth 21 in the face of the fixed jaw 16 or in the back portion 46 of the fixed jaw. These ratchet teeth and their operation are fully described in our copending application which is made a part of this application by reference. All of the improvements of the copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 265,570 which are described in that application are adaptable to this wrench as well. It is understood that without further description the improvements in the shapes of the fixed and movable jaws described therein can be applied to the wrench of this invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wrench may include a ratcheting slot 48. The function of ratcheting slot 48 is to permit the wrench to function in the manner of a ratchet wrench, that is, in which the user can repeatedly engage a nut without removing the wrench from contact with the nut. For more details on the function of ratcheting slot 48 reference may be had to copending US. Pat. application entitled ADJUSTABLE RATCI-IETING WRENCH, filed June 23, 1972, Ser. No. 265,570.

Another important feature of this invention is means by which the wrench can be automatically sized to fit a nut on which it is to be used. This feature permits the user of the wrench to retract the locking member, pull removable jaw 18 open, place the wrench so that the jaws are to either side of the nut or bolt to be engaged, and then release movable jaw 18. It will automatically move to engage the nut or bolt. The locking member is then released and the jaws of the wrench are held in proper relationship for engaging the nut or bolt. This automatic feature is obtained by means of a spring 50, affixed at one end to fixed jaw portion 16 and at the other end to movable jaw portion 18. This is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Spring 50 fits in a slot 52A in fixed jaw portion of the wrench and a mating slot 528 in the movable jaw portion. A pin 54A affixes one end of spring 50 to the fixed jaw and in like manner a pin 54B affixes the opposite end of the spring to the movable aw.

The combination of features in the wrench disclosed provides a wrench having unique capabilities for quick adjustment to fit a nut, bolt or other object. Not only is the movable jaw quickly locked in proper relationship to the fixed jaw, but by the utilization of spring 50 the movement of the jaw into proper position is also quickly achieved.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment set forth herein by way of exemplifying the invention but the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element or step thereof is entitled.

I claim:

1. In a rapidly adjustable wrench, comprising:

a. an elongated body for use as a handle, with an enlarged portion or head at one end;

b. a fixed jaw at said head end of said body;

0. a movable jaw with an arm extending at a right angle, said arm slidably received into said head;

(I. a plurality of ratchet teeth cut into said arm on the side opposite to said jaw;

a recess in said head adjacent said arm, a locking member longitudinally slidably received in said recess, ratchet teeth cut into one end of said locking member for matching the ratchet teeth on said arm, spring means pressing said locking member into locking contact with said arm; and f. means to manually grasp said locking member and pull it back against the force of said spring until said ratchet teeth on said locking member and said 2. each of said two parts of said locking member I having a slot along their ends opposite to the end having said ratchet teeth, forming a pair of ridges along either side of the plane of contact between said two parts;

3. said spring means comprising leaf spring means having a slot of width substantially the same as the width of said two ridges, said spring adapted to be positioned with its slot over said ridges, whereby said two parts are locked together in a direction perpendicular to the plane of contact between said two parts; whereby said locking member is prevented from being removed from said recess.

2. The wrench as in claim 1 including shallow pin means to prevent longitudinal relative motion between said two parts of said lock members.

3. The wrench as in claim 1 in which said leaf spring is in the shape of the number 7, with said slot in the top arm of the 7, adapted to be positioned over said ridges.

4. The wrench as in claim 1 including means to limit the outward travel of said movable jaw.

5. The wrench as in claim 1 including notches cut into the face of the fixed jaw for the purpose of locking the wrench to a nut placed between the jaw of said wrench.

6. A wrench as in claim 1 including resilient means biasing said movable jaw towards said fixed jaw.

7. A wrench as in claim 6 wherein said movable jaw has an elongated slot in the surface of said arm portion and wherein said fixed jaw has an elongated slot therein opposed and contiguous to said slot in said movable jaw, and wherein said resilient means biasing said movable jaw towards said fixed jaw is an extendable spring positioned in said slots, having one end thereof attached to said movable jaw and the other end thereof attached to said fixed jaw.

Dedication 3,817,128.James P. Evans, Okkihoma City. Okla. RAPIDLY ADJUST- ABLE WRENCH. Patent dated June 18, 1974. Dedication filed June 24, 1974, by the inventor. Hereby dedicates t0 the Public the remaining term of said patent.

[Ofiicial Garaffe June 24, 1975.] 

1. In a rapidly adjustable wrench, comprising: a. an elongated body for use as a handle, with an enlarged portion or head at one end; b. a fixed jaw at said head end of said body; c. a movable jaw with an arm extending at a right angle, said arm slidably received into said head; d. a plurality of ratchet teeth cut into said arm on the side opposite to said jaw; e. a recess in said head adjacent said arm, a locking member longitudinally slidably received in said recess, ratchet teeth cut into one end of said locking member for matching the ratchet teeth on said arm, spring means pressing said locking member into locking contact with said arm; and f. means to manually grasp said locking member and pull it back against the force of said spring until said ratchet teeth on said locking member and said arm are out of contact, and said arm is free to slide in said head; the improvement comprising:
 1. said locking member constructed of two pieces of metal, each part insertable into said recess from opposite sides of said head;
 2. each of said two parts of said locking member having a slot along their ends opposite to the end having said ratchet teeth, forming a pair of ridges along either side of the plane of contact between said two parts;
 3. said spring means comprising leaf spring means having a slot of width substantially the same as the width of said two ridges, said spring adapted to be positioned with its slot over said ridges, whereby said two parts are locked together in a direction perpendicular to the plane of contact between said two parts; whereby said locking member is prevented from being removed from said recess.
 2. The wrencH as in claim 1 including shallow pin means to prevent longitudinal relative motion between said two parts of said lock members.
 2. each of said two parts of said locking member having a slot along their ends opposite to the end having said ratchet teeth, forming a pair of ridges along either side of the plane of contact between said two parts;
 3. The wrench as in claim 1 in which said leaf spring is in the shape of the number ''''7,'''' with said slot in the top arm of the ''''7,'''' adapted to be positioned over said ridges.
 3. said spring means comprising leaf spring means having a slot of width substantially the same as the width of said two ridges, said spring adapted to be positioned with its slot over said ridges, whereby said two parts are locked together in a direction perpendicular to the plane of contact between said two parts; whereby said locking member is prevented from being removed from said recess.
 4. The wrench as in claim 1 including means to limit the outward travel of said movable jaw.
 5. The wrench as in claim 1 including notches cut into the face of the fixed jaw for the purpose of locking the wrench to a nut placed between the jaw of said wrench.
 6. A wrench as in claim 1 including resilient means biasing said movable jaw towards said fixed jaw.
 7. A wrench as in claim 6 wherein said movable jaw has an elongated slot in the surface of said arm portion and wherein said fixed jaw has an elongated slot therein opposed and contiguous to said slot in said movable jaw, and wherein said resilient means biasing said movable jaw towards said fixed jaw is an extendable spring positioned in said slots, having one end thereof attached to said movable jaw and the other end thereof attached to said fixed jaw. 